Keyless insertion locking system and method

Abstract

The present invention, in a non-limiting example embodiment provides a locking apparatus and method for securing locking hardware without the use of a key. In an example embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least a keyless insertion rotatable disk-style, barrel locking apparatus that, in a locked state can be inserted into a securing device without first unlocking, and then, thereafter, locking after insertion. In a nonlimiting example embodiment, unlocking and re-locking requires a key. The present invention, in an example embodiment, also provides features that allow the locking apparatus to enter and exit multiple apertures without requiring a key.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for installing a barrel lock in electric utility locking hardware, the method comprising:
 providing a barrel lock comprising a body and a retractable locking member, wherein the retractable locking member comprises an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the retractable locking member is in the extended position; 
 inserting the barrel lock in hardware capable of receiving the barrel lock, wherein the barrel lock is not in the hardware prior to the inserting; 
 exerting an external force in a first direction directly by the hardware on the retractable locking member during the inserting; 
 biasing the retractable locking member to oppose the exerting an external force; and 
 causing the locking member to retract to the retracted position into the body so as to allow insertion of the barrel lock into the hardware. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising exerting an external force in a second direction directly by the hardware on the retractable locking member, wherein the retractable locking member is prevented from retracting to the retracted position. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable locking member is in the most extended position prior to exerting the external force. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising exerting an external force directly on the retractable locking member in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction, wherein the retractable locking member is prevented from retracting to a retracted configuration. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising exerting an external force in a second direction directly by electric utility locking hardware on the retractable locking member, wherein the retractable locking member is prevented from retracting to the retracted position. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel lock comprises a locked configuration, and wherein the retractable locking member is in an extended position in the locked configuration. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the barrel lock further comprises an unlocked configuration wherein the retractable locking member is retractable when the barrel lock is in the unlocked configuration and when the barrel lock is being removed in a second direction from the hardware. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein barrel lock is self-locking when installed in the hardware. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable locking member is resiliently biased to a locked configuration. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel lock comprises a uni-directional release configuration wherein the retractable locking member comprises a uni-directional release. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable locking member comprises a locking ball. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the barrel lock comprises a uni- directional release configuration wherein the locking ball comprises a uni-directional release. 
     
     
       13. A locking apparatus for use with electric utility locking hardware, the apparatus comprising:
 a barrel lock insertable into electric utility locking hardware, the barrel lock comprising a body comprising a head portion and a shaft portion, and further comprising at least one retractable locking member, and a biasing member configured to bias the at least one retractable locking member, wherein the retractable locking member comprises an extended position and a retracted position, the biasing member biasing the retractable locking member to the extended position; 
 wherein the electric utility locking hardware is configured for receiving the barrel lock, and wherein the barrel lock is not in the electric utility locking hardware prior to inserting the barrel lock into the electric utility locking hardware; 
 wherein an external force may be exerted in a first direction directly by the electric utility locking hardware on the at least one retractable locking member during the inserting, the biasing member biasing the retractable locking member to oppose exerting an external force; and 
 wherein the at least one retractable locking member is retractable to the retracted position into the body when the external force is exerted in a first direction directly by the electric utility locking hardware on the at least one retractable locking member so as to allow insertion of the barrel lock into the electric utility locking hardware. 
 
     
     
       14. The locking apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising exerting an external force in a second direction directly by the electric utility locking hardware on the at least one retractable locking member, wherein the at least one retractable locking member is prevented from retracting to the retracted position. 
     
     
       15. The locking apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one retractable locking member is in the most extended position prior to exerting the external force. 
     
     
       16. The locking apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the barrel lock comprises a locked configuration, and wherein the at least one retractable locking member is in an extended position in the locked configuration. 
     
     
       17. The locking apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the barrel lock further comprises an unlocked configuration wherein the at least one retractable locking member is retractable when the barrel lock is in the unlocked configuration and when the barrel lock is being removed in the second direction from the locking hardware. 
     
     
       18. The locking apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein barrel lock is self-locking when installed in the locking hardware. 
     
     
       19. The locking apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the barrel lock comprises a uni-directional release configuration wherein the at least one retractable locking member comprises a uni-directional release. 
     
     
       20. The locking apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one retractable locking member comprises at least one locking ball, wherein the barrel lock comprises a uni-directional release configuration wherein the at least one locking ball comprises a uni-directional release.